Windsor Star » restaurantsWindsor Starhttp://blogs.windsorstar.com
Windsor StarTue, 31 Mar 2015 22:03:54 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/http://1.gravatar.com/blavatar/58154357a21f0ee0c154f325e88e221c?s=96&d=http%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.png » restaurantsWindsor Starhttp://blogs.windsorstar.com
Are you being served? Even casual restaurants can benefit from high-end approachhttp://blogs.windsorstar.com/life/are-you-being-served-even-casual-restaurants-can-benefit-from-high-end-approach
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/life/are-you-being-served-even-casual-restaurants-can-benefit-from-high-end-approach#commentsWed, 28 Jan 2015 23:35:38 +0000http://blogs.windsorstar.com/?p=427389]]>It seems there’s more talk about “service” these days (thank you, Downton Abbey) and while precious few of us will ever have butlers, most of us will eat out have our food served to us, whether we’re having a $12 burger or a $60 steak.

So why reserve excellent service only for fine dining? Just because you’re out to dinner at a casual restaurant doesn’t mean you should expect nonchalant service.

Local restaurant owners are warming up to the idea that investing time and resources training their servers can mean better returns for their business and their staff, too.

After all, happy customers mean repeat business, referrals and – alas, a consideration for those working for minimum wage – better tips and steadier work.

“It’s been documented that for guests to return to your establishment, service is No. 1,” said Paul Miaritis, a career server who now teaches food service in the hospitality program at St. Clair College.

In other words, good food alone won’t bring diners back.

Professionalism pays off

That’s old news to local restaurant owner Mark Boscariol, who arranged top-up training for the staff at The Willistead and Snackbar-B-Q to up their game in everything from accurate table settings to suggesting wine pairings.

It’s not like the servers at both his restaurants aren’t already trained, Boscariol said, but he’s looking to take it to “the next level.”

Mark Boscariol

And customers are already giving rave reviews, he said, sharing social media comments from diners that praise the service as well as the food.

Just because these are casual restaurants doesn’t mean they can’t have top-notch service, Boscariol said, adding that he thinks his servers can earn 20 per cent more with some professional fine-tuning.

“It’s not just a ‘come in, punch the clock and leave’ kind of job,” said The City Grill’s general manager Tanya Hedrick.

At The City Grill, servers are trained for two weeks before they start working solo – and training includes shifts in the kitchen and also taking the LCBO’s wine and spirits basics course. And every six months, all the staff learn the latest food and drink menu … and get tested on it.

It might sound a tad stuffy, but a growing number of people in the industry believe this sort of professionalism pays off.

Going beyond “service with a smile”

Once you understand the essence of service, it changes your approach to the work, said Alister Cameron, the head server at The Willistead.

“It’s about making people feel comfortable in any situation,” said Cameron, who did the bulk of his learning on the job with the career waiters at Il Gabbiano on Erie Street.

But beyond making people comfortable, he said, professional servers understand all the minutiae of serving diners – everything from how to uncork champagne to the difference between French, English Russian and American table service. (Yes, there is a difference!)

Not just a stepping stone

With proper training, Miaritis said, more servers can actually make a career of it, like it’s done in Europe. Serving in a restaurant doesn’t have to be a stepping stone to something “better.”

Take Cameron, for example. He’s worked in Windsor’s restaurant scene for 25 years, including as an owner of Three … A tasting bar, and decided to make a career out of serving – and an economically stable one, at that – about 12 years ago.

“I decided that. It wasn’t something I was forced into,” he said. It’s easy to associate the job with making quick money but that mindset won’t get you very far. Good service brings people back and makes for a memorable experience, he said, adding it’s heartening to see restaurateurs invest in their front-of-house staff this way. “I’m proud of Windsor for taking that on.”

Try out a new restaurant or return to an old favourite with special prix fixe menus between $10 and $35 per person. This year, 20 local restaurants have signed on and their kitchens cover the spectrum from fine dining to Philippine cuisine and from brunch to dinner. (And yes, the Windsor Club will be open to non-members keen to try out the menu and check out the riverfront view.)

For the vegans among you (or for those of you simply looking to add more plants to your diet) Mezzo Ristorante will offer vegan options on its Winter Bites menu. Mezzo will also host a vegan brunch on Jan. 18 as part of Winter Bites.

And if you’re smartphone savvy, join the conversation with the #WinterBites2015 hashtag. Reservations are recommended. For details visit windsoreats.com/winterbites.

]]>http://blogs.windsorstar.com/life/winter-bites-restaurant-week-starts-jan-12/feed0winstarfantoniWhat’s tasty is trendy around herehttp://blogs.windsorstar.com/life/whats-tasty-is-trendy-around-here
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/life/whats-tasty-is-trendy-around-here#commentsWed, 07 Jan 2015 10:00:10 +0000http://blogs.windsorstar.com/?p=422914]]>The clock has turned to 2015 in Windsor-Essex and even when it comes to food, the region is keeping up with the times.

With savvier diners who travel and tune into cable TV food shows, local restaurateurs are trying new things all the time. No need to wait for the latest food trend to trickle down from Toronto or Chicago like in the past.

This arguably might not be the place to look for, say, deconstructivist gastronomy (vanishing ravioli, anyone?), but take a peek at the 2014 Restaurants Canada chef survey to see how the region’s restaurants are staying on-trend.

Some 400 chefs across Canada weighed in on what’s au courant in everything from food preparation methods to desserts to spices. It turns out there is at least one Windsor-Essex restaurant offering one of the Top 10 “hot trends.”

Here’s a quick-and-dirty list just to give you an idea.

If you have more suggestions of places serving these on-trend foods, post a comment or email me at bfantoni@windsorstar.com.

3. Locally sourced foods: Ding ding ding! Not sure we need to call it trendy in Windsor-Essex. It’s more like a way of life. Whether its Berkshire pork, Lake Erie perch, corn or cucumbers, local food is everywhere here. Find out just how many restaurants and food businesses use local products at welookforlocal.ca

4. Leafy greens: Yes, you can make friends with salad! Green leafies like kale, Swiss chard, dandelion greens and the like were trendy in 2014. Mazaar has long been ahead of that curve with its dandelion green salad, made by sautéing dandelion leaves with spices and topped with fried onions. 372 Ouellette Ave., mazaar.ca

5. Craft beer and microbrews: It started with Walkerville Brewery and it’s grown to include Motor Burger, Brew and Craft Heads, to name a couple of others. We quite like the look of Brew and its blue glass bottles. Drop in for a taste at 635 University Ave. E., brewwindsor.com

8. Charcuterie and house-cured meats: Prosciutto and capicollo aren’t just for sandwiches anymore – you’ll see these delicacies served as appetizers and alongside wine samples. Bonus: Hung Handcrafted Charcuterie is made in Windsor. Have a taste at Rino’s Kitchen and Ale House, 131 Elliott St. W., rinoskitchen.com

9. Food trucks: You may have spotted food trucks like Smashed Apple Catering, Tutti Mangia and BlackJack GastroVan around in the warmer months of 2014. Now stay tuned for WindsorEats’ Truckin’ Good Food series set to start in June 2015. windsoreats.com

10. Inexpensive/underused cuts of meat: Give beef cheeks a chance at the new Snackbar-B-Q downtown. They turn this underused cut into a pulled barbecue beef cheek sandwich with smoked Gouda, grilled onions and horseradish mayo. 39 Chatham St. E., snackbarbq.ca

Into the future

What’s looking trendy in 2015? We asked a few experts for their predictions:

1. More house-made items: We’re leaving the bottled, packaged stuff behind in favour of made-from-scratch, says Kent Mackenzie, regional sales manager for Morton Wholesale. The result is better quality and often healthier.

2. Shareable plates: The trend of grazing is starting to take off in Windsor says Phil Quenneville, district sales representative for Gordon Food Service. Can’t decide what to try? This way you can try a little bit of everything.

3. More international cuisine: We’re not done exploring! Mackenzie cites the example of Korean food, which is just starting to gain a foothold in the region.

4. Less red meat: The higher cost of red meat and more health-conscious diners means restaurants are using more alternatives like lamb and duck, as well as offering more vegetarian and vegan options.

Find Windsor Star on Facebook]]>http://blogs.windsorstar.com/life/whats-tasty-is-trendy-around-here/feed0Pieces of brescaola and coppa is cured by Mark Dutka, who owns Hung Handcrafted Charcuterie. (DAX MELMER / Windsor Star files)winstarfantoniLori Laramie-Gallagher has plenty of gluten-free products and meals on her menu at Aunt Lori's Gluten Free Deli on Ottawa Street. (NICK BRANCACCIO / Windsor Star files)Gino Gesuale, left, Adriano Ciotoli and Pina Ciotoli of the Brew bar. (DAN JANISSE / Windsor Star files)Sandi Bertram displays tasty rice balls or arancini, served from the window of Tutti Mangia Twisted Italian Cuisine food truck. (NICK BRANCACCIO / Windsor Star files)Don’t feel like cooking Dec. 25? Here’s where you can eat outhttp://blogs.windsorstar.com/life/dont-feel-like-cooking-dec-25-heres-where-you-can-eat-out
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/life/dont-feel-like-cooking-dec-25-heres-where-you-can-eat-out#commentsThu, 18 Dec 2014 09:30:37 +0000http://blogs.windsorstar.com/?p=417055]]>Business is decidedly quiet on Dec. 25, but a few restaurants in town do stay open to serve Christmas Day customers. Below is a list of local places. Did we miss any? Send an email to bfantoni@windsorstar.com and we’ll update the list throughout the week.

Caesars Windsor, 377 Riverside Dr. E., 1-800-991-7777. All restaurants will be open with their usual schedules except for Johnny Rockets. Nero’s opens 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and will serve a special holiday menu alongside its regular menu. Reservations are recommended, so be sure to call ahead. The Artist Cafe is open 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. with regular menu and the Market Buffet is open 11:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. Taza is open 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. while Johnny Rockets opens 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. only. (Talk about a smorgasbord of restaurant selection there.)

Grill 55, 1855 Huron Church Rd., 519-967-9908. The restaurant is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Breakfast is served 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and then the menu switches to buffet style. There are three seatings: noon, 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Reservations are recommended because this restaurant fills up fast.

Phog Lounge, 157 University Ave. W., 519-253-1605. Open 365 days a year, so that includes Dec. 25. If you’re up for something casual, stop in for pizza and poutine (regular, vegetarian … and vegan! Score!). Open at 8 p.m.

Mezzo Ristorante, 804 Erie St. E., 519-252-4055. The restaurant hosts a charity dinner every year for members of the community who are alone or homeless during the holidays. Seating is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Bonus: If you’re looking for a place to cure your New Year’s hangover, stop in to Deb’s Diner for breakfast on Jan. 1 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. 1430 Ottawa St., 519-252-3327

]]>http://blogs.windsorstar.com/life/dont-feel-like-cooking-dec-25-heres-where-you-can-eat-out/feed0For a enjoyable trouble-free holiday dinner, care must be taken from the moment you buy the groceries for preparation. (DEBRA BRASH / Victoria Times-Colonist)winstarfantoniRestaurants revamp to let you linger over dinnerhttp://blogs.windsorstar.com/life/restaurants-revamp-to-let-you-linger-over-dinner
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/life/restaurants-revamp-to-let-you-linger-over-dinner#commentsThu, 13 Nov 2014 02:08:43 +0000http://blogs.windsorstar.com/?p=401672]]>Everything happens faster these days: downloading email attachments, crossing the globe, dinner at the restaurant …

When you’re out to dinner, letting a conversation continue past dessert can sometimes be a little guilt-inducing these days.

Let’s face it, even though everybody likes the concept of “slow food,” chances are you’re going to wrap up dinner the second the dessert plates are cleared.

(Even when we eat at home, dinner can be rushed, as we try to sneak in a meal between work, classes, homework and hockey practice.)

Have we forgotten the art of lingering over dinner?

Not necessarily, says Ken Reynolds, professor of hospitality at St. Clair College.

If both restaurateurs and diners use some common sense and courtesy, there is a way to enjoy dinner without feeling rushed.

“By allowing people to linger there’s an investment in goodwill,” he said, describing how some restaurant operators see it. “Part of the (dining-out) experience is how welcome you feel.”

That, in turn, makes it a restaurant you will want to return to and one that you’ll speak well of. And word of mouth is very important in the restaurant business, Reynolds said.

If it’s a really in-demand restaurant or one that does not take reservations (see our story on Oct. 26 for more wisdom on that topic) then it’s safe to assume diners are savvy enough to know not to linger, he said. And in that case, it’s possible to shift your dinner party to, say, a nearby coffee shop or back to the house rather than shut it down altogether.

Some Windsor restaurants are incorporating new dining configurations to help guests feel more welcome and allow them to take their time over dinner.

At La Guardia downtown, for example, owner and chef Joe Ciliberto is preparing to unveil a six-person chef’s table in a nook at the centre of the restaurant in time for the winter holidays.

“We wanted to incorporate something other restaurants don’t have,” Ciliberto said. The concept, which is part of the restaurant’s overall renovation, is designed for diners who are willing to invest a little more money and time in the experience. (Dinner for six works out to roughly $110 per person, he said.)

By reserving ahead of time, guests can lay claim to the private chef’s table for an entire evening and, rather than order off the menu, Ciliberto will prepare an a la carte meal especially for them. The party also gets its own waiter and wine consultant.

And the chef’s table idea also makes it more fun for him and his father and fellow chef Michael Ciliberto because they can get creative cooking up bespoke dinners for the chef’s table guests.

A place setting is seen at the new 18-seat harvest table at The Chef Next Door to The Twisted Apron. (DAX MELMER / The Windsor Star)

“This is for … people who want something different and a high-end experience all to themselves,” Ciliberto said.

At the ever-busy Twisted Apron in Walkerville, owner Kate Robinson has designed a slowed-down dining experience for large groups of diners which still incorporates the familiar, home-cooked foods on restaurant’s menu.

“I tried to bring back the art of dining,” Robinson said, adding that large groups sometimes have a hard time finding a place to have dinner together because of the sheer size of their party. “People understand that we used to sit around the dinner table Sunday night and enjoy each other’s company.”

So at the new event space next door to the restaurant, aptly called The Chef Next Door to The Twisted Apron, diners can book the 18-seat “harvest table” for private events.

The idea behind the set-up – which can accommodate up to 40 guests with extra seating – is to bring back the family dining feel, Robinson said. You can even bring your own wine and set your own music playlist!

Large families, for example, have booked the space for get-togethers because their own dining rooms were too small to accommodate the party, she said.

In many restaurants today, larger parties can’t mingle very easily because space is tight. But with a separate table and a space to themselves, Robinson said, guests can get up and change seats as they choose.

And because the space can be booked in three-hour blocks, guests can take their time without feeling they have to hurry out to let the servers clear the table.

And price-wise, it can work out to as little as $33 per person, depending on the custom menu choice and number of guests.

“Dinner is supposed to be social,” Robinson said.

Reynolds said the fact that restaurant owners are willing to invest in these kinds of features shows guests are looking beyond the food when choosing to go out to dine.

]]>http://blogs.windsorstar.com/life/restaurants-revamp-to-let-you-linger-over-dinner/feed0Owner Katie Robinson stands next to the new 18-seat harvest table at The Chef Next Door to The Twisted Apron. (DAX MELMER / The Windsor Star)winstarfantoniA place setting is seen at the new 18-seat harvest table at The Chef Next Door to The Twisted Apron. (DAX MELMER / The Windsor Star)Photograph your food in downtown Windsorhttp://blogs.windsorstar.com/news/photograph-your-food-in-downtown-windsor
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/news/photograph-your-food-in-downtown-windsor#commentsWed, 05 Nov 2014 03:16:19 +0000http://blogs.windsorstar.com/?p=399694]]>Tired of snapping and posting selfies while enjoying downtown Windsor’s eateries?

Here’s something different — snap a photo of your next meal instead and post it on social media for the world to see.

The Downtown Windsor BIA is urging restaurant goers to take pictures of their meals and show them off on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #30daysdiningdowntown.

BIA chair Larry Horwitz says it’s a fun way to promote restaurants in the downtown core.

“We have all kinds, all types of ethnic foods and some very, very good Canadian restaurants. We thought this would be a great event, especially in the month of November, to really highlight some of these eateries,” said Horwitz.

Those who take part are eligible to win gifts from Windsor’s downtown restaurants. The contest runs through Nov. 30.

]]>http://blogs.windsorstar.com/news/photograph-your-food-in-downtown-windsor/feed0Walid Abouelella (R) slices chicken shawarma while Badar Falah serves customers at Shawarma Palace in Windsor, Ont. on Oct. 31, 2012. (Nick Brancaccio / The Windsor Star)winstarschmidt‘Dinner and a movie’ is different during WIFFhttp://blogs.windsorstar.com/life/dinner-and-a-movie-is-different-during-wiff
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/life/dinner-and-a-movie-is-different-during-wiff#commentsMon, 03 Nov 2014 17:10:18 +0000http://blogs.windsorstar.com/?p=399376]]>You’ll notice something if you take a stroll downtown during the Windsor International Film Festival – the cafes and restaurants are fuller than usual.

While these businesses benefit by being in the right place at the right time, feeding and watering hungry movie-goers from early morning to very late at night, a growing number of downtown restaurants are being proactive about it and getting on the WIFF wagon.

“It’s the first year we’ve had people coming to us,” said Denise Deziel, events co-ordinator for the festival.

WIFF brings so many people into Windsor’s downtown that now it’s the restaurants approaching the festival about in-kind and financial donations instead of the other way around, she said, citing the example of Chanoso’s and South Detroit.

This year, WIFF has six restaurants and bars plus the casino listed as official hospitality partners.

Restaurants and cafes are recognizing there’s a huge influx of people downtown and they want to capitalize on it, she said. “I see huge potential,” she said. “This is a clientele (downtown restaurants) wouldn’t ordinarily have.”

If last year some 12,000 movie tickets were sold during the festival, that means thousands of people were in the neighbourhood over the course of a week … and many were looking for a place to sit down and eat before or after the show. With an even longer festival this year, those numbers will only climb.

You’ll spot some restaurants offering discounts and specials to coincide with WIFF – things like coupons from Chanoso’s and South Detroit and 10 per cent discounts at The City Grill, and specially concocted drinks like the pumpkin hot chocolate at the Green Bean Café.

It makes good business sense, to be sure, but many restaurateurs say it’s also about mutually supporting activity in Windsor’s core.

“We didn’t really look at it from a business perspective but from an arts and culture perspective,” said Matt Komsa, co-owner of The City Grill, which has partnered with the festival since opening in 2011.

“The first year it was an eye-opener how many people WIFF drew downtown,” he said.

The City Grill is now known as WIFF’s main food haunt for everything from the opening night party to hosting visiting filmmakers for lunch and dinner.

Komsa said they even extended the weekend hours during the festival to accommodate movie-goers who wanted to drop in for lunch on Saturday and Sunday.

And film festival season has helped turn an ordinarily quieter month business-wise into a busy time, he added.

At Pause Café, a favourite lunch spot among the downtown’s public sector workers, lawyers and bakers, owner Ryan Smith said he sees a lot more retirees and students during WIFF — customers he ordinarily doesn’t see come through the door.

And there’s a noticeable increase in business, particularly on weeknights. “The restaurant will be full on Monday night for no other reason than the festival,” Smith said.

At Chanoso’s extra staff are brought on to help deal with the higher volume of diners, explained Seth Perera, the restaurant’s operator.

WIFF has been a downtown Windsor staple for a decade now, Perera said. “At the end of the day, our major motivation is to support events in the downtown core,” he said. “We all do business together.”

bfantoni@windsorstar.com or follow me on Twitter @bfantoni

]]>http://blogs.windsorstar.com/life/dinner-and-a-movie-is-different-during-wiff/feed0Denise Hrastovec scoops an oyster at The City Grill, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. After the Windsor International Film Festival's first screening film goers mingled over drinks and food. (RICK DAWES/The Windsor Star)winstarfantoniWindsor Club courted by landlordshttp://blogs.windsorstar.com/news/windsor-club-courted-by-landlords
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/news/windsor-club-courted-by-landlords#commentsFri, 24 Oct 2014 01:02:11 +0000http://blogs.windsorstar.com/?p=395691]]>The Windsor Club has been struggling to recruit and retain members but is having little trouble finding landlords who want the private club as a tenant.

The club’s board of directors has received several offers, including one to stay at its current downtown location in the CIBC building and another to relocate to a riverfront office building on the Hiram Walker and Sons land.

The club has been located on the 14th floor of the CIBC building at the corner of Ouellette Avenue and Riverside Drive since 1987. Its lease expires Nov. 30, 2015, so early this year it put out a request for proposals for a future location.

Membership has fallen from 335 in 2008 to just more than 200. Finding the right home for the future is critical to the private club’s survival, directors believe.

“Some time in the next couple months, we will decide what we are going to do,” said Windsor Club president David Moncur.

Once news got out that the club was searching for a new location, inquiries from local landlords began pouring in.

An option the club considered this summer came from Penalty Box owner Van Niforos and partner George Sofos, who are renovating a historic landmark in the 1100 block of University Avenue. The structure built in 1886 as North America’s first electric streetcar production facility and depot is being converted into a new Penalty Box restaurant.

Niforos said this week he slammed the brakes on restaurant’s renovation plans once the Windsor Club indicated an interest. He believed club directors were attracted to the location because of the heritage value and extensive available parking, he said.

An architect was hired at a cost of $15,000 to produce drawings of a proposed new Windsor Club and Penalty Box location with an exposed brick interior and a patio overlooking a garden on the converted railway path next door.

But discussions with the Windsor Club were derailed in August when Mayor Eddie Francis proposed saving the Wiser’s Reception Centre — a Hiram Walker office building on the Detroit River — from demolition by renting it to unnamed tenant, Niforos said.

Hiram Walker, now owned by Pernod Ricard, had applied to tear down the building constructed in 1964. It was confirmed this week the mayor’s potential tenant is the Windsor Club.

Francis indicated Thursday he did put the Windsor Club in touch with with the distiller.

“I know they had discussions, but I have no updates in terms of the process,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for everybody to save the building. We introduced them and left it to the Windsor Club and Wiser’s to make a deal happen.”

Heading up the search committee for the Windsor Club is its vice-president Federica Nazzani, former boss at Windsor’s airport. She did not return a message from The Star.

Moncur refused to comment on the possibility of moving to the Hiram Walker site, but did say club directors believed it would be tough for Niforos to have his project on University Avenue ready to meet their deadline.

Meanwhile, Mikhail Holdings, owner of the CIBC building, is offering to do renovations to keep the Windsor Club in its building. Joe Mikhail said he plans to convert a little-known third floor balcony on the east side of the building into a public restaurant and martini bar that would offer Windsor Club members exclusive privileges.

“Our intent is to make sure we keep them and work hand-in-hand to grow their membership,” he said.

Mikhail said he also intends to bring in “a high-end” local restaurant, which he would not name, and have it oversee the home of the Windsor Club on the 14th floor.

“We appreciate private clubs are challenged,” Mikhail said. “We would take over a portion of the space, renovate it, open it as a high-end, public restaurant. We will share the same kitchen and management group.”

He intends to proceed with renovating the balcony and adding the restaurant on the 14th floor regardless of what the Windsor Club decides, Mikhail said. He estimated the cost of the changes will be at least $1 million.

But Mikhail has yet to give the Windsor Club board a firm offer to study, Moncur said.

“Give it to us in writing so that we have something to digest,” he said. “Our members might be more than happy to stay there.”

Find Windsor Star on Facebook]]>http://blogs.windsorstar.com/news/windsor-club-courted-by-landlords/feed0Joe Mikhail is photographed on the third floor roof of his building at the corner of Ouellette Avenue and Riverside Drive in Windsor on Wednesday, October 22, 2014. Mikhail is hoping to create a patio area and is looking to partner with the Windsor Club, which currently occupies the top floor of the building, or another partner. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)dbattagelloArchitectural drawings for a joint Penalty Box and Windsor Club facility at the historic former streetcar company building being renovated in the 1100 block of University Ave. West.Joe Mikhail is photographed on the third floor roof of his building at the corner of Ouellette Avenue and Riverside Drive in Windsor on Wednesday, October 22, 2014. Mikhail is hoping to create a patio area and is looking to partner with the Windsor Club, which currently occupies the top floor of the building, or another partner. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)Architectural drawings for a joint Penalty Box and Windsor Club facility at the historic former streetcar company building being renovated in the 1100 block of University Ave. West.Time-tested and tasty, too: Windsor-Essex’s oldest restaurants, Part 4http://blogs.windsorstar.com/life/time-tested-and-tasty-too-windsor-essexs-oldest-restaurants-part-4
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/life/time-tested-and-tasty-too-windsor-essexs-oldest-restaurants-part-4#commentsThu, 02 Oct 2014 00:59:07 +0000http://blogs.windsorstar.com/?p=387136]]>Two main themes emerge when it comes to the grand-daddies of food-service establishments in Windsor-Essex: fish and comfort food.

It seems the 80- 90- and 100-year-old restaurants are the ones that continue to serve up quality fried fish, a good hamburger or a nice plate of bacon and eggs to multiple generations of Windsor-Essex families.

So just which ones are the restaurants where everyone from your kids to your great-grandparents have gone to celebrate special occasions, cure hangovers or fulfill cravings? Read on!

Sandwich Street view of Dominion House Tavern, where horses, wagons and carriages were once tied and parked on the east side yard of the historic roadhouse. (NICK BRANCACCIO / The Windsor Star)

The Dominion House

This roundup wouldn’t be complete without the Dominion House, which clocks in at 136 years old.

Photograph dated about 1912 shows horses and wagons parked at the east side yard of Dominion House on Sandwich Street. (Courtesy of Dominion House)

This is the oldest continuously running tavern in the region, and first opened its doors to travellers in 1878. The building burned down in 1883 and the tavern was rebuilt in its present location on Sandwich Street across from the original lot.

It’s gone through more than a dozen owners, with the current team taking over in 2011.

“The history is something you can’t buy,” said co-owner Kristian Neill. Every day they hear a new story from a patron about the Dominion House’s history, Neill said.

Given its proximity to campus, the DH is popular with the university crowd, but that doesn’t mean it’s rowdy. There are noisy rooms and quiet rooms, Neill said. It’s not unusual to see students hunker down with beer to work on their papers.

Chew on this bit of history: Party like it’s 1959 and dig into a burger topped with cheese and bacon – the menu item that’s lasted five decades.
3140 Sandwich St., 519-971-7400, thedominionhouse.ca

Stevie Demiraj of Edna’s Restaurant poses beside family photos of his grandfather Joe Demiraj, left, and father, Liram Demiraj who have both owned and operated the mom-and-pop diner for decades. (NICK BRANCACCIO / The Windsor Star)

Edna’s Lunch

Some say Edna’s Lunch is the oldest restaurant in Belle River, and locals recall hearing that there’s been an eating spot at the same corner of Notre Dame and Zoe since the late 1800s.

Liram Demiraj of Edna’s Restaurant poses outside one of the oldest homes in Belle River which served as the first location for Edna’s. Demiraj’s father, Joe Demiraj owned the entire property and built Joe’s Variety Store, behind. Longtime residents remember the bus depot being located at the same spot where Demiraj is standing. (NICK BRANCACCIO / The Windsor Star)

Steve Demiraj, the current owner, said Edna’s used to be housed inside the old red brick house on the same lot, which also served as a bus depot. At some point, a new cinder block structure was built to house this family-style restaurant and it’s stayed largely the same to this day. Demiraj’s grandfather bought the restaurant in the mid-1960s.

With its diner-style counter, Edna’s has a real back-in-time feel. It’s busy for weekend breakfast and if you’re feeling peckish on a Friday night, this is also the place to get your hands on fresh perch and pickerel and broaster-style chicken.

Chew on this bit of history: The eggs and bacon breakfast special endures. The only thing that’s changed about it over the years is the price which, in 2014, is all of $4.95.

592 Notre Dame St., Belle River, 519-728-4462

Customers Michelle Guarasci, left, and Agnes Murphy, have their breakfast delivered by Merita Berberi at Station Restaurant, still open and busier than ever. “This is the best places to eat. It’s usually full and when they clear the tables, they fill up again,” said Guarasci, of Wallaceburg. (NICK BRANCACCIO / The Windsor Star)

Station Restaurant

The train station has since been demolished, but the restaurant serving it has stuck around.

Station Lunch Restaurant, 1350 Pelletier St., just east of McKay Avenue, is nearly 100 years old. It once served workers and passengers on trains at the old New York Central Train Station, which was located directly beside the restaurant. (NICK BRANCACCIO / The Windsor Star)

Station Restaurant (or Station Lunch, as some old-timers call it), tucked away at the end of Pelletier Street in the city’s southwest dates back to the 1910s, right around the time the old train station was built just north of Tecumseh Road and McKay Avenue.

The historic station, which saw passenger and freight trains go by, burned down in 1996 and had to be demolished. But locals keep coming in to the restaurant across the tracks for breakfast and lunch.

Isa Berberi, who bought the restaurant in 1997, did a major reno in 2003, but the menu has a lot of old faithfuls on it. Long-time patrons say they remember the old leather benches and the jukebox, too.

Chew on this bit of history: The hamburgers. This menu item has outlasted the train station and a few rounds of restaurant owners.

1350 Pelletier St., 519-254-9135

Meadows By The Lake

This Essex County staple has unfortunately just suffered a fire, but its owners vow they’ll be open for business again in a few months.

Meadows By The Lake was built in 1923 as a stop for travellers and was eventually converted to a tavern in 1935. In 1986, it finally got its full liquor licence, but for the decades in between, said owner Wayne Jahn, Meadows was the only place folks in nearby Colchester – a dry county – could get a beer.

But besides the booze, Meadows has a reputation for its fresh perch and pickerel.

The menu has grown over the years, and for those of you with an eye to eating local, Meadows makes a point of using ingredients from Essex County.

Chew on this bit of history: The tartar sauce is made with an age-old recipe that regulars say is the best for miles around.

Sir Cedric’s Fish and Chips

Judging by the number of owners and different names it’s gone through, current owners Sylvia Bouzide and her daughter Kelly Tosti figure Sir Cedric’s has got to be at least 90 years old.

The early history is patchy, but the popular purveyor of fried fish and potatoes was already around in the 1950s, when Bouzide was just a little girl and going to dance class upstairs from the restaurant, which at the time, was known as Steve and Eddie’s.

The building eventually burned down and turned into a single-level building, and the fish and chip shop is the only business on that lot that stayed.

Bouzide and her husband Jerry took it over in 1977, changing the name and eventually expanding the dining area. Sir Cedric’s has remained in the family since then and everyone pitches in filleting fish, peeling potatoes and serving the customers.

Chew on this bit of history: The halibut fish and chips. Although halibut is a bit more expensive than cod and haddock, it’s the least fishy-tasting fish, making it a delicacy of sorts among fish and chip connoisseurs.

Morris said the restaurant used to be at the corner of Gladstone and Wyandotte before moving onto Ottawa Street in the 1950s.

Descendants of the original owner, a Scottish woman affectionately known as Nana, used to stop in regularly to check on how Morris was frying up the fish, she said. The story is Nana named the restaurant after the ship that brought her across the ocean to Canada.

To add even more charm to an already charming spot, just have a look at the hand-painted script in the restaurant’s front window, which has stayed the same for generations.

1991 Ottawa St., 519-252-3504

Catch up

]]>http://blogs.windsorstar.com/life/time-tested-and-tasty-too-windsor-essexs-oldest-restaurants-part-4/feed0Dominion House owners Kristian Neill, left, and Chris Mickle tend to the bar and customer Bob Fairhurst at the historic roadhouse established in 1878, making it Ontario's third oldest pub. (NICK BRANCACCIO / The Windsor Star)winstarfantoniSandwich Street view of Dominion House Tavern, where horses, wagons and carriages were once tied and parked on the east side yard of the historic roadhouse. (NICK BRANCACCIO / The Windsor Star)Photograph dated about 1912 shows horses and wagons parked at the east side yard of Dominion House on Sandwich Street. (Courtesy of Dominion House)Stevie Demiraj of Edna's Restaurant poses beside family photos of his grandfather Joe Demiraj, left, and father, Liram Demiraj who have both owned and operated the mom-and-pop diner for decades. (NICK BRANCACCIO / The Windsor Star)Liram Demiraj of Edna's Restaurant poses outside one of the oldest homes in Belle River which served as the first location for Edna's. Demiraj's father, Joe Demiraj owned the entire property and built Joe's Variety Store, behind. Longtime residents remember the bus depot being located at the same spot where Demiraj is standing. (NICK BRANCACCIO / The Windsor Star)Customers Michelle Guarasci, left, and Agnes Murphy, have their breakfast delivered by Merita Berberi at Station Restaurant, still open and busier than ever. "This is the best places to eat. It's usually full and when they clear the tables, they fill up again," said Guarasci, of Wallaceburg. (NICK BRANCACCIO / The Windsor Star)Station Lunch Restaurant, 1350 Pelletier St., just east of McKay Avenue, is nearly 100 years old. It once served workers and passengers on trains at the old New York Central Train Station, which was located directly beside the restaurant. (NICK BRANCACCIO / The Windsor Star)Jerry Bouzide, 76, owner of Sir Cedric's Fish and Chips, is pictured with his daughter, Kelly Tosti, right, and granddaughter, Natalia Tosti, 25. (DAX MELMER / The Windsor Star)Z_CEDRICS_INSIDEAldea Morris, owner of Heather Bell Fish and Chips, serves up some fish and chips recently. (DAX MELMER / The Windsor Star)Aldea Morris, owner of Heather Bell Fish and Chips, is pictured outside her restaurant on Ottawa Street. (DAX MELMER / The Windsor Star)Windsor-Essex’s longest-standing restaurants, part 3http://blogs.windsorstar.com/life/windsor-essexs-longest-standing-restaurants-part-3
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/life/windsor-essexs-longest-standing-restaurants-part-3#commentsWed, 02 Jul 2014 09:00:20 +0000http://blogs.windsorstar.com/?p=359387]]>Humans have yet to invent time travel, but a restaurant and the right plate of food at the right spot along the lunch counter can take you way back.

These days, restaurants are constantly changing to keep up with trends to please savvier and more demanding customers, but there are some that stay successfully frozen in time, so to speak, preparing and serving food in the same way they did decades ago and in much the same surroundings.

In this this third instalment of the series on Windsor and Essex County’s oldest restaurants, we get to know the eateries in Windsor-Essex that have clocked between 70 and 85 years in the business.

What many of the owners of these longstanding restaurants say is that, along with consistency in menu offerings, it’s the familiar look and feel of the place that keeps generations of loyal customers coming back.

Our criteria

We started this series with restaurants that were 40-55 years old, followed by a roundup of restaurants in the 56-70 range. With a little help from Windsor Star readers, we compiled our oldest restaurants roundup based on the following criteria:

1. The establishment serves food and/or drink prepared on the premises and which are, for the most part, meant to be consumed on the spot.
2. Its identity has remained largely the same for at least 40 years, meaning it has had the same name for at least 40 years; and has served broadly the same type of food or cuisine for at least 40 years.

Of course, it is possible we have missed some long-time spots and we try to include any stragglers in subsequent instalments.

Coming up

Stay tuned for Part 4 of the series, where we get to know the Windsor-Essex restaurants that have clocked 86, 90 and even more than 100 years in the food business. Catch up on Part 1 and Part 2 of the series at windsorstar.com.

From youngest to oldest

Tunnel Bar-B-Q will close its doors in September after more than seven decades in business, much to the dismay of barbecue lovers in Windsor and beyond. (The University of Windsor has bought the land for its expansion into the downtown core.)

But after the announcement of the closure in May, owner Thom Racovitis hinted it might not be the end of this 73-year-old food institution. “We haven’t made any decisions,” Racovitis said about future incarnations of TBQ, such as takeout or catering.

What we know for sure is that the famed barbecue sauce will still be for sale in different local retail locations and online.

Nostalgic nosh: The barbecued ribs are made the same way they were generations ago. And don’t snub the vegetables. “The coleslaw’s what we’re noted for,” Racovitis said.

58 Park St. E., 519-258-3663

Downtown Windsor employees know they can count on the United Grill for a comforting meal. This luncheonette has stayed in the same family for three generations.

The United Grill has been a mainstay in downtown Windsor for several years. (Tyler Brownbridge / The Windsor Star)

“We’ve seen the cycles over the years,” said John Karloff, whose grandfather opened up shop in the late 1930s. But after so many ups and downs in the business, they’ve learned to take it all in stride, he said.

Over its 70-plus years of history, the United Grill has gone through a few variations, at one point specializing in barbecue, with a spit right in the front window. The spit has since been removed, but the interior has remained modest and unpretentious even through a few renovations.

Now, the restaurant has found its niche as a weekday breakfast and lunch spot, Karloff said. “We’re the everyday place, not the ‘special day’ place.”

Nostalgic nosh: The Thursday spare ribs special. “They go way back,” Karloff said. This dish has been on the menu since the 1950s and the recipe has stayed the exact same over the decades.

20 University Ave. E., 519-253-8747

Maria herself is no longer serving lunch at this 70-something-year-old Amherstburg restaurant, but the locals still show up to eat at her restaurant.

Tony Pietrangelo bought Maria’s in 1984, he said, keeping the same name. He didn’t expect to stick with it for so long. “Thirty years later, I’m still here,” he said.

There’s nothing easy about owning a restaurant, he said – it’s long hours and it’s hard to keep prices competitive with the cost of food constantly rising – but serving and talking to customers every day is the best part of the business.

Since opening in the early 1940s as Woods Confectionery, Maria’s has had a few facelifts (including a new mural painted in 2012 by a local artist), but some details, like the tables, date back to the 1950s.

Nostalgic nosh: The breakfast offerings, which draw big crowds on the weekend. The $4.99 breakfast special and the Eggs Benedict are popular choices. But if you’re stopping in for lunch or dinner, the broasted chicken is a popular choice.

131 Sandwich St. S., Amherstburg, 519-736-6983

It’s quite possibly the most easily missed restaurant on Windsor’s dining map. But you’re losing out on a piece of 83-year-old dining history if you haven’t yet eaten at the Ukrainian Restaurant tucked away on Marion Ave.

This humble little establishment, with pastel pink booths and cream and orange ceramic tiles, dates back to 1931, and it’s only gone through two owners since then.

Anna Momcilovic, the current owner, still makes the same stuffed peppers and handmade noodles she did back when she bought the little place in 1968, moving her family into the house behind the restaurant.

The whole restaurant seems frozen in time, starting with the white gauze curtains at the front to the giant black stove in the back kitchen. But of particular note are the hexagonal white light fixtures, which date back to the 1930s and the massive vintage industrial refrigerator, which dates back to the 1960s.

Nostalgic nosh: The whole menu! But if you want to try a little bit of this and that, the $3.99 special comes with two plump cabbage rolls or six perogies and soup.

1148 Marion Ave., 519-253-3981

There are people who swear by Malic’s corned beef sandwiches and there’s 85 years of history to back up those claims. This deli on Wyandotte Street East opened its doors in 1929.

The Blue Max on Rye is a very popular menu item at Malic’s in Windsor. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE / The Windsor Star)

“Everybody knows this place,” says Yan Hao, who bought the restaurant in September 2013, making her just the fourth owner in line.

The previous owners took a lot of the wall art with them after the sale, Hao said, so she’s been trying to recreate the same atmosphere by replacing the vintage photographs and posters as best she can. But finding historic photos of Malic’s has been difficult.

The narrow wooden booths and skinny metal coat racks stuck around, however, and Hao said the regulars never grow tired of them.

Nostalgic nosh: The classic corned beef sandwich, served on white rye with a pickle. But if you’re feeling extravagant, you can opt for a jumbo Reuben or triple-decker Blue Max with two kinds of smoked meat.

543 Wyandotte St. E., 519-252-3886

Quick mentions

We missed this long-standing neighbourhood restaurant in the previous instalment of the series. Gladys Bales opened The Deluxe in Essex in 1955 and it’s stayed in the same family for three generations.

Ryan Simpson, Gladys’ grandson, has recently come back to help his father Jack run the restaurant. The menu has gone through some changes, but the overall feel of the place has stayed the same.

The new Friday night fish fry dinners got popular very quickly, Simpson said, but they still have customers coming in for simple things like hot turkey sandwiches with fresh mashed potatoes on the side.

And there’s no faking the atmosphere, Simpson said, with unique details like Gladys’ collection of Royal Doulton china on display. “You can’t buy this look,” Simpson said.

51 Talbot St. N., Essex, 519-776-8112

It sounds like gyros landed on the Windsor-Essex map sometime in the mid-1960s. Thanos Zikantas and his sister Maria Krikellas took over at Sofos Submarine 15 years ago. Zikantas said Sofos was the first restaurant to introduce this Greek-style grilled meat to the area, and the restaurant has gone through five owners over the years.

Krikellas recommends the beef gyros, which is made from scratch using fresh ground beef with a little bit of lamb meat mixed in.

6082 Tecumseh Rd. E., 519-948-7977

]]>http://blogs.windsorstar.com/life/windsor-essexs-longest-standing-restaurants-part-3/feed0Tyler Seman serves up a plate of ribs at Tunnel Bar-B-Q in Windsor. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE / The Windsor Star)winstarfantoniThe United Grill has been a mainstay in downtown Windsor for several years. (Tyler Brownbridge / The Windsor Star)Maria's Restaurant owner Tony Pietrangelo stands inside the historic restaurant in Amherstburg. (JASON KRYK / The Windsor Star)The Ukrainian Restaurant opened in 1931. (DAX MELMER / The Windsor Star)The menu is written in chalk on the wall at Ukrainian Restaurant. (DAX MELMER / The Windsor Star)Anna Momcilovic, owner of Ukrainian Restaurant since 1968, is pictured in the restaurant's dining room. The restaurant opened in 1931. (DAX MELMER / The Windsor Star)The Blue Max on Rye is a very popular menu item at Malic's in Windsor. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE / The Windsor Star)